Libya

Times sure have changed in Libya. So much so that the EU’s Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, has opened an office in the rebel-held capital of Libya. The Transitional National Council (TNC) has almost gained the reputation of being the new government of Libya. The EU wants to enter into fruitful dialogue with the TNC.

The clash of rebels and Colonel Muammar Qaddafi’s forces has created chaos in the country. NATO war planes have bombed Qaddafi’s compound as western sympathies for the pro-democratic elements in Libya have surfaced. The leader of the TNC thanked the EU for supporting their cause.

If events unfurl at the present rate Qaddafi’s days in his own land are numbered.

Libya, like Egypt and Syria, is in the throes of a full-fledged revolution these days. Adding insult to injury, the Oil Minister, Shukri Ghanem, defected to Tunisia. He had had his differences and conflicts with the government of Muamar Qaddafi and had previously offered his resignation in 2009.

Currently in Tunisia, he has maintained silence as far as criticism of the Libyan government is concerned. The decision by Shukri Ghanem came as quite a shock since he was one of the main men Qaddafi possessed in his arsenal. The highly acclaimed Oil Minister left the country amidst the civil war between rebels and government forces.

Several other government officials have also left the country, which is left poorer as a result.

President Barack Obama did not have the constitutional authority to order U.S. forces to participate in an attack on Libya says Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)

On Saturday Kucinich in conference call with other liberal lawmakers asked” why the U.S. missile strikes were not impeachable offenses” according to two Democratic lawmakers who spoke to Politico.

On Friday (March 18, 2011) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) released the following statement on his website and letter to Congressional leaders after the President announced that the United States will support a United Nations-approved attack on Libya:

“While the action is billed as protecting the civilians of Libya, a no-fly-zone begins with an attack on the air defenses of Libya and Qaddafi forces. It is an act of war. The president made statements which attempt to minimize U.S. action, but U.S. planes may drop U.S. bombs and U.S. missiles may be involved in striking another sovereign nation. War from the air is still war.

“It is also worth noting that the President did not comment upon nor recognize that the Libyan government had declared a ceasefire in response to UNSC Resolution 1973. It was appropriate for the UN to speak about the situation. It was appropriate to establish an arms embargo and freeze Qaddafi’s considerable financial assets. But whether the U.S. takes military action is not for the UN alone to decide. There is a constitutional imperative in the United States with respect to deciding to commit our U.S. armed forces to war.

“Congress should be called back into session immediately to decide whether or not to authorize the United States’ participation in a military strike. If it does not, the action of the President is contrary to U.S. Constitution. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution clearly states that the United States Congress has the power to declare war. The President does not. That was the Founders’ intent.

“I have sent a letter to Congressional leadership indicating that the national interest requires that Congress be called back quickly to Washington to exercise its Constitutional authority to determine whether our armed forces should participate in the UN mission. Both houses of Congress must weigh in. This is not for the President alone, or for a few high ranking Members of Congress to decide.

“It is hard to imagine that Congress, during the current contentious debate over deficits and budget cutting, would agree to plunge America into still another war, especially since America will spend trillions in total for the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and incursions into Pakistan.

“The last thing we need is to be embroiled in yet another intervention in another Muslim country. The American people have had enough. First it was Afghanistan, then Iraq. Then bombs began to fall in Pakistan, then Yemen, and soon it seems bombs could be falling in Libya. Our nation simply cannot afford another war, economically, diplomatically or spiritually,” said Kucinich
Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Mike Capuano (D-MA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) “all strongly raised objections to the constitutionality of the president’s actions” during the conference call, a source told Politico.

Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader also said the president was committing “war crimes” in the attack against Libya.

“Why don’t we say what’s on the minds of many legal experts; that the Obama administration is committing war crimes and if Bush should have been impeached, Obama should be impeached,” Nader told Democracy Now! Thursday.

On Sunday, Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi warned that the partition of Sudan would be a “contagious disease” that could spread to other African countries.

He said at the opening of an Arab-Africa summit in Sirte, Libya. “What is happening in Sudan could become a contagious disease that affects the whole of Africa,”

“We must recognise that this event is dangerous,” he said indicating to the January ninth referendum on southern Sudan independence which could see Africa’s biggest country divide in two.

Libyan leader told the gathering, which is also being attended by Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir that “The partition of Sudan is likely to change the map of the country. But other (African countries) will change too,”